Batter's box

From Encyclopedia Jr, free information reference for Kids

In baseball, softball, and similar sports and games, the batter's box is the place where the batter stands when ready to receive a pitch from the pitcher. It is usually drawn in chalk on the dirt surrounding home plate. In fact, there are two batter's boxes, one for left-handed batters and one for right-handed batters, although rules-wise they serve the same purpose. A batter may only occupy one batter's box at a time.

The pitcher may not throw his pitch while any part of the batter's body is touching the ground outside of the batter's box. Once the batter has entered the batter's box, any time the batter wishes to leave the batter's box once the pitcher has put his foot on the rubber, he must first ask the umpire for time out.

A right handed batter would stand in the batter's box on the left side of home plate from the perspective of the catcher and umpire. A left handed batter would stand in the batter's box to their right.